[Mike Atkisson]

I have a 2012 535 that I am contemplating doing a soft close retrofit.

I have a 2011 550 parts car with factory soft close I plan to use for swap parts.

Both cars are Alpine White so I am thinking about just swapping the doors from the 550 onto my car.

Only thing I need to figure out is the factory wiring for the doors
When I check the car side harness there are 2 additional wires on the 550.
One wire is Red with Gray stripe which I assume is the power for soft close.
The other wire is Black with Blue stripe. Would this be the ground for the soft close?
Moving to BMW from many years of VW and Audi ownership where all the ground wires are Brown, so not sure about the Black w/Blue stripe.

If Black is not for Soft Close any idea what else it could be?

Anyone out there with experience working on the door harness that can share some advice?

[Blue Angel]

I have no technical input on the retrofit, but as the owner of an F10 with soft close I will say, for me at least, the novelty wore off quick.

The F10 doors close with so little effort already that it's difficult to even demonstrate to someone how they work. I basically have to do it for them after they fail several times (closing too hard).

If it's a cheap and easy and you have the parts, ok, why not. But if it involves a bunch of wiring and or questionable reliability once complete, in my opinion it's not worth it. My $.02

Also not sure if the VIN is stamped into the doors/glass somewhere (fail an inspection maybe?) and/or whether there are any modules coded to the car (require re-coding?) if you swap doors? Just throwing it out there in case.

[walmark]

Funny, I'm in the opposite boat. I love mine and can't imagine the car without them. I think they add a level of sophistication and luxury to the car. Every time I drive my wife's Honda or a rental car, I have to try 2-3 times before I manage to close the door 😂 And as I finally slam it shut I keep thinking "how primitive"

Sadly, looks like soft close became a victim of BMW feature removal to lower production costs, as they are no longer available on a 5 series.

[Hoa]

This is a simple to retrofit.

Swap out the foam piece at the latch if you don't want to trim.

One wire is ground. The other is power ran into rear fuse box. Each uses 10A fuse.

FL Pin F110 (10+5pin connector)

RL Pin F143

FR Pin F144

RR Pin F149

[Mike Atkisson]

Just to make sure, there are no modules or coding involved correct?

[Hoa]

No coding at all

[Blue Angel]

Originally Posted by walmark

Sadly, looks like soft close became a victim of BMW feature removal to lower production costs, as they are no longer available on a 5 series.

It's likely because there was no business case for having them available. If stocking different wire harnesses is required and perhaps even a unique latch mechanism, plus the cost of R&D and testing, perhaps it's such a rarely optioned item that they would lose money offering it?

Don't get me wrong, I can understand the appeal and it is a neat feature, but to me it just doesn't add much value in a car whose doors close so easily to begin with. To each their own!

[BMW FOREVER]

Originally Posted by walmark

Sadly, looks like soft close became a victim of BMW feature removal to lower production costs, as they are no longer available on a 5 series.

Not true at all...soft close doors are still available in Canada (I just checked the online configurator for a 540)...its manly BMW USA's decision to remove it just how they don't offer rear climate control in USA...but here in Canada it is standard equipment on every single G30...not to mention BMW USA does not offer laser headlights whereas BMW Canada does.

[BimmerHausPerformance]

I love my soft close doors!!! Keeps my kids from slamming them shut!! Lol

[walmark]

Originally Posted by BMW FOREVER

Not true at all...soft close doors are still available in Canada (I just checked the online configurator for a 540)...its manly BMW USA's decision to remove it just how they don't offer rear climate control in USA...but here in Canada it is standard equipment on every single G30...not to mention BMW USA does not offer laser headlights whereas BMW Canada does.

Thanks for the info - I should have suspected that.
Looks like I'll need to look for used Canadian imports in the future!

[Blue Angel]

Originally Posted by BrowBMW

I love my soft close doors!!! Keeps my kids from slamming them shut!! Lol

Kids, heck, it took me six months to get my wife to stop slamming her door! Lol

[Blue Angel]

Originally Posted by BMW FOREVER

Not true at all...soft close doors are still available in Canada (I just checked the online configurator for a 540)...its manly BMW USA's decision to remove it just how they don't offer rear climate control in USA...but here in Canada it is standard equipment on every single G30...not to mention BMW USA does not offer laser headlights whereas BMW Canada does.

Thanks for confirming that! (Mainly the rear seat hvac). Curious choice to not even make it optional… there are lots of places in the US that are plenty cold!

My car is well-optioned, but rear climate control is one that's missing. I do have heated rear seats which is the 80% solution for Canadian winters.

[M_Bimmer]

Originally Posted by BrowBMW

I love my soft close doors!!! Keeps my kids from slamming them shut!! Lol

....and I find myself closing other vehicle doors too softly, like the Model 3, and I have to do multiple attends to appropriately close....